HIS MAIESTY’S.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1346, 10 February 1916, Page 34

HIS MAIESTY’S.

“BOUGHT AND PAID FOR.”

“The moment a husband even mentions his legal rights he knows he

has forfeited his moral rights, and the moral, rights are the ones which count.” This phase of the marriage question is worked out in “Bought and Paid For,” the American drama, in which Miss Muriel Starr commenced her farewell season at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday. It is a problem that resolves itself into a wife’s fight for self-respect. Robert Stafford, an American millionaire, wants a wife. His choice falls on. Virginia Blaine, a telephone operator. Both are practical and both are heartwhole. He needs a partner and can give her every luxury. She loves luxuries and so consents. Out of the union comes good for her sister Fanny Blaine, who is able to marry the man of her heart, James Gilley, thanks to a comfortable billet from Stafford. Virginia is happy in her marfied life, and has learnt to love her husband. But there is one cloud. Robert Stafford has occasional bouts of drinking to excess, and on these occasions he fills her with loathing. This inspires the greatest moment in the play. In a bestial mood he demands his wife to join him in a champagne orgie. When she refuses and revolts against his amorous advances, he brutally taunts her that she was bought and paid for. This is the final degradation. She locks her bedroom door. Infuriated he loses the last spark of manhood, and seizing a poker smashes in a panel. Next morning sees her husband repentant and ashamed. But Virginia is inflexible. In a plea for her self-respect she begs him to give up the drink or she will leave him. He resents her appeal to make terms. She refuses to forsake her principles and leaves him to go back to her old life of struggle. Jimmy chivalrously stands by his sister-in-law and likewise goes back to his former period of clerkship at 13 per, but racks his brains to bring about a reconciliation, which, in the end, by ingenuous manoeuvring, he accomplishes. Miss Muriel Starr, whose emotional qualities revealed themselves strikingly on her previous visit in “Within the Law,” again reached great heights in her portrayal of the part of Virginia Blaine, striking a thrillingdramatic note in the scene where she proclaims the rights of a wife, and intensifying it with her quiet reserve. Mr. Charles A. Millward showed the brilliancy of his acting in his forceful characterisation of Robert Stafford. With consummate artistry he portrayed the inebriated moods of the millionaire, tracing in the unpleasant touches with subtle skill and bringing, to bear his distinctive personality tn the lighter moments. A contrasting marriage phase was conveyed by Miss Dorothy Davies and Mr. Hobart Cavanaugh, on whose shoulders fell the comedy of the piece. Miss Davies (who is making her first appearance in New Zealand) as Fanny Blaine made a direct appeal wCth her charm and vivacity and rough and ready ways, while Mr. Cavanaugh as the optimistic Jimmy, never at a loss for an idea, delighted everyone with his impudence. An admirable cast was completed by Mr. Leonard .Stephens in- a. finished little sketch of a Japanese servant, and *by Miss Gertrude Boswell in a small but effective part as the French maid. “Bought and Paid For” will be replaced on Saturday by “Under Cover,” which will be played for four nights.